In today’s reading from the Acts of the Apostles, God reminds us that everything that He has made is good. Luke writes:
About noon the next day, as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray. He became hungry and wanted something to eat; and while it was being prepared, he fell into a trance. He saw the heaven opened and something like a large sheet coming down, being lowered to the ground by its four corners. In it were all kinds of four-footed creatures and reptiles and birds of the air. Then he heard a voice saying, “Get up, Peter; kill and eat.” But Peter said, “By no means, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is profane or unclean.” The voice said to him again, a second time, “What God has made clean, you must not call profane.” This happened three times, and the thing was suddenly taken up to heaven. Acts 10: 9-16
Have you ever heard anyone say that the created order is in some way evil? I know that I have, and I have to ask these people, “How can creation be bad? After all, God made it, and Genesis in the Old Testament tells us quite emphatically: “And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good.” Gn. 1:31.
Peter did not quite get the idea, but God sets him straight. Peter followed the Jewish dietary laws wherein some things are considered unclean. Peter, trying to be a good follower of the law, pats himself on the back when he is confronted with eating things that would be considered unclean. But God reminds Peter, and us, that everything that God has created is good. The question for us is, what do we do with God’s creation? Do we profane it by misusing it? How do we treat God's creatures, people? Sometimes we miseuse creation; at times we disrespect and misuse people in our lives. God calls us to deal with what he has created wisely and respectfully, after all, it is all His.
About noon the next day, as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray. He became hungry and wanted something to eat; and while it was being prepared, he fell into a trance. He saw the heaven opened and something like a large sheet coming down, being lowered to the ground by its four corners. In it were all kinds of four-footed creatures and reptiles and birds of the air. Then he heard a voice saying, “Get up, Peter; kill and eat.” But Peter said, “By no means, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is profane or unclean.” The voice said to him again, a second time, “What God has made clean, you must not call profane.” This happened three times, and the thing was suddenly taken up to heaven. Acts 10: 9-16
Have you ever heard anyone say that the created order is in some way evil? I know that I have, and I have to ask these people, “How can creation be bad? After all, God made it, and Genesis in the Old Testament tells us quite emphatically: “And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good.” Gn. 1:31.
Peter did not quite get the idea, but God sets him straight. Peter followed the Jewish dietary laws wherein some things are considered unclean. Peter, trying to be a good follower of the law, pats himself on the back when he is confronted with eating things that would be considered unclean. But God reminds Peter, and us, that everything that God has created is good. The question for us is, what do we do with God’s creation? Do we profane it by misusing it? How do we treat God's creatures, people? Sometimes we miseuse creation; at times we disrespect and misuse people in our lives. God calls us to deal with what he has created wisely and respectfully, after all, it is all His.
1 comment:
Chester, I just wanted to let you know that at least one person reads this (periodically, anyway).
Thank you.
Howard
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